RSPCA under fire over new rules for farmers and it's 'a kick in teeth'

The RSPCA has come under fire over new "woke" rules for farmers - as they demand they stop killing snails. In a new video, the animal charity has called for farmers to stop squashing snails because the creatures are poorly treated by humans.

The video also urges people to stop swatting flies and catching bees in lawnmowers. Gareth Wyn Jones, a Welsh hill farmer who has been involved in recent farming protests, said the video from the charity was “a kick in the teeth”.

“Respecting animals is what 99 per cent of farmers do. There's a few rotten apples but those are the ones that the RSPCA keeps showing,” he told The Telegraph. “We all love bees, but when there are so many cases of real animal cruelty lecturing people on lawn mowing really isn't the issue,” Tim Bonner of the Countryside Alliance said.

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The RSPCA said: “In reality, both experience lives rich in emotions - rats love to play and even giggle when tickled, and chickens can count and some show empathy for their flock mates.” Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the animal welfare charity, said: “We are devoted to our cats and dogs, but we often don't realise we are connected to billions of other animals in our lives, through the things we buy and the choices we make.

“All animals are amazing, but sadly we've come to see many creatures as commodities and we value their lives differently because of it. As a society, we love our native birds, but turn a blind eye to the suffering of billions of meat chickens; we love the hedgehogs who visit our garden, but treat rats and foxes as pests.

“We need to realise that all animals have feelings and emotions, many can feel joy, anger, fear, and more, and whether they are pets, wildlife, on farms or in labs, they deserve to have a fulfilled life of their own.”